The brand-new Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elías Jaua, said on Thursday that President Hugo Chávez, admitted to hospital five weeks ago in Cuba, "is ruling and making decisions." Evidence of it is his appointment last Tuesday.

"If I am the foreign minister, it is because the president is ruling and making decisions," he told Colombian Blu radio during an interview. Jaua contended that no other Venezuelan government official is empowered to appoint or dismiss ministers, Efe quoted.

"Neither Vice-President Nicolás Maduro nor I would dare make such insensible thing," he added.

For Jaua, nobody should "have absolutely no doubt" that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is "holding office" from Cuba. Therefore, he asked the opposition to respect "the legitimacy of the Bolivarian government of Venezuela and abandon the way of anxiety and uncertainty."

"Our people are aware that President Hugo Chávez must get well and that is their major concern," he remarked.

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